Drop-pit apparatus



March 18, 1930. F.v L.. DAvls, JR f 1,751,076

DROP P11l APPARATUS F11ed May 11, 1928 2 sheets-sheet l l E' J. J7 1" j f7 23% 7 .g A6 5% ,Z P76 l 1 l l l' I 2o J3 26y 22 J4 v 2 I 1 Jl 1..

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March 1s, 1930.

F, 1 DAvls. JR 1Q751,076-

DROP PIT APPARATUS 2 shets-sneet 2 Filed May 11, 1928 @3x21 @V60/vuela@ s v Patented Mar. 18, 1930 UNTD STATES FRANK L. DAVIS, JR.,OF KENILWORTH, NEW JERSEY,

ASSIGNOR-TO THE WATSON- STILLMAN CO., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY DROP-PIT APPARATUS Application filed lv'ay 11,

Y The present invention relates to d rop pit apparatus for removing and replacing the wheels or other parts of locomotives or other rolling stock. In such apparatus a table provided with a track section is employed for bridging the dropl pit, and the locomotive is driven across the pit and stopped in such position that the wheels or other parts to be removed rest upon the said table. The table is detachably mounted in bridging position and when the wheels have been detached from the locomotive the table with the wheels thereon is lowered into the pit and transported therealong out from beneath the locomotive and again raised and detachably mounted in another bridging position so that the wheels may be rolled oli'. To replace the wheels these movements of the table are reversed. A truck provided with an elevator 2O mechanism is employed in the pit for transporting the table therealong and raising and lowering it.

An important object of this invention is to provide an improved means for detachably mounting the bridging and wheel-transporting table in bridging position across the drop pit. Other Vobjects will appear hereinafter. In the drawings :v Y Fig. 1 is a transverse section taken through a drop pit, showing the wheel-removing mechanism in end view with the table in bridging position;

Fig. 2 a side elevation, partly in section, of the wheel-removing mechanism;

Fig. 3 a diagrammatic plan view upon a reduced scale, of the driving mechanism for the elevator;

Fig. 4 a sectionalview upon a larger scale, taken upon the line 4 4 ot Fig. 2 and showing the bolts retracted;

Fig. 5 a detail section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig.4; Fig. 6 a detail sectional view upon a still larger scale than Fig'. 4, through one of the bolting devices;

Fig. 7 a detail sectional view taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 a perspective view of the bolting 1928. Serial No. 276,972.

mechanism of the table removed from its mounting.

Referring in detail to the various parts, 1 designates the drop pit, shown in cross section in Fig. l, and 2 a trackwhich extends longitudinally along the bottom of the pit. The pit intersects a plurality of surface tracks and the rails of one of'said tracks leading to the opposite side edges of the pit are indicated at 3. Mounted to travel upon the track 2 at the bottom of the pit is a truck 4 comprising a rigid frame 5, wheels 6 and axles 7 fixed to the wheels and rotatably connected to the frame. Uponthe axles 7 are mounted lever and ratchet devices 8 for manually propelling the truck along its track.

The' truck carries an elevator orl jack mechanism for lowering and raising the locomotive wheels or'othervparts into andV out of the pit. This mechanism includes four vertical corner screws 9 iixed to the truck :trame 5. Mounted to travel up and down upon the screws is an elevator frame 10. This frame is a rigid structure formed of side beams 11 arranged in two "pairs and spaced part at oppositev sides'of the screws 9. Two end beams 12 extend transversely between the beams 11 and are rigidly attached thereto. All of the beams are flanged at their upper and lower edgesand four gear casings are attached to the lower' flanged edges of the side beams 11 and haveV the screws 9 extending through them. Each casing is sectional in orm'and comprises a lower cup-like section 13, and an upper platelike cover section 14 secured to the beams 11 and to out-turned ianges formed upon the lower section. The upper or cover secltion is formed with an upwardlyextending tatably support a worm 18 which engages the wheel 16.

There is a worm and wheel in each casing. The two worms at one end of the ele-- vator frame are fixed to a transverse shaft 19; the two at the opposite end are fixed to a parallel shaft 20; and both shafts are turned in unison by a longitudinal central shaft 21 operatively connected to them by bevel gearing 22. Anelectric motor 23 is supported by the elevator frame by attachment to two longitudinal angle irons 24 mounted upon the end beams 12-of the frame. Fixed to the motor shaft is a drive pinion 25 which meshes with a Vgear 26 fixed to the central shaft 21 so that the motor has a driving connection with allof the nut members or worm wheels 16 for driving them in unison and raising and lowering the elevator frame.

The elevator mechanism just described is for the purpose of raising and lowering my improved table 27 for bridging the pit and supporting the locomotive wheels. The table comprises a fixed frame formed of end beams 28 and intermediate I-beams 29, all extending transversely with respect to the truck and the pit, and rigidly connected to side beams 30 which extend longitudinally of the truck and pit. There are four of theV I-beams 29 arranged in pairs, parallel and spaced apart a distance corresponding to the space between the track rails 3 leading to the edges of the pit. Plates 31 are secured to the upper sides of the I-beams and extend along Y substantially the length thereof. Mounted upon these plates and centered over the spaces-between the two pairs'of I-beams are two track rail sections 32 to register with the surface rails 3 and bridge the pit. The rails are secured to the table in any suitable manner and are co-extensive with their supporting I-beams and plates. Plates 33 are also interposed between the I-beams and their supporting longitudinal side' beams 30. There are four of the latter also, arranged in pairs beneath the I-beams and adapted to be received between the side beams 11 of the elevator frame when said frame is raised into engagement'with ythe table. The end beams 28 of the table rest upon the ends of the side beams 30 and both are of channel form. `Both end beams are spaced materially outward from theI-beams and the plates 31 extend beyond the outer edges of the I-beams and cooperate with the end beams to support -strong platforms 34 extending along the outer sides of the rail sections 32 and substantially flush with the heads thereof. A central platform 35 alsoV extends longitudinally between the rails at the bases of the I-beams and is secured to'and supported by the side beams 30.

The table is provided with four locking and supporting'bolts 36 which are mounted so that they can be projected out from bot-h ends of each pair of Ibeams 29 and' engaged with keeper means mounted upon opposite sides of the pit to support the table in position to bridge the pit. Each bolt is guided by two spaced guide. members 37 and 38 in the form of blocks mounted in the space between the webs of companion -beams and secured to the beams as at 39. The bolt is in the form of a straight bar of rectangular cross section and it reciprocates lthrough correspondingly shaped central openings in the Y guides in a direction parallel to the rail section above it. The guides support it directly beneath the center of the rail section. The guide block 37 is formed with an upwardly tapered nose 40l which projects out beyond the ends of the I-beams to guide the bolts accurately into register with their keeper means as will be described later in the specification. At its outer end the bolt is cut away at its underl side to form a notch 41 and a lip 42. The latt-er serves as means for ensuring a secure engagement of `the bolt with the keeper.

The four bolts are adapted or retracted in unison by an improved mechanism which includes a rock shaft 43 which extends in a direction transversely to the rail sections 32, is disposed below the central platform 35 and is rockablysupported yat its ends in bearing brackets 44 which are attached to the end beams 28. Two upper rock shafts 45 are disposed below the outer platforms 34 and journaled in openings in the end beams 28 and in the I-beams 29. The

to be proj ected ico shafts 45 extend parallel to the shaft 43 and are located directly over the ends thereof.

Fixed to each shaft 45 adjacentits supporting end beam 28 is an operating lever 46.

These levers extend upwardly through clearfixed to the bolt and extends transverselyVv outward therefrom through a clearance slot in one of the I-beams. Each shaft 45 also has a crank armO fixed to it adjacentthe lever 46. The lower rock shaft 43 has two crank arms 51 fixed to itdirectly beneath the-V arms 50 and operatively connected .thereto by links 52. These connections provide for the shifting of all of the bolts in unison when either lever V46 is operated. When the bolts are projected to their-operative positions the links 48 and the rocking members'47 are on a dead center. The levers 46 are angular in form so that in this position of the bolts their outer ends do not project above the plat-forms 34. The arrangementof the shafts' and their s connections is a most desirable one. It enables the rock shaft 43 to be located below the central platform 35 and leaves the latter entirely unobstructed.

Mounted upon opposite sides of the pit directly below the surface rails 3 are fixed plates 54 extending from the top to the bottom of the pit. Two reinforcing strips 55 are mounted upon each plate 54 and extend along the side edges thereof. At its upper edge the plate 54 is formed with a keeper notch 56 and the edge of the pit is recessed adjacentl said. notch. Atthe lower edge 57 of the notch a plate 58 is secured to the plate 54 between the strips 55, and the plates 54 and 58 define a keeper for one of the bolts 36. Two spaced guide plates 59 are mounted upon the strips 55 at opposite sides of the notch. These plates are in the same plane forward of the keeper plate 58 and their opposed edges are straight and parallel at their upper portions as at 60 and diverge outwardly at their lower ends as at 61.

There is one of these guide and keeper structures for each bolt and they serve to accurately guide the bolts into register with the keeper notches and properly dispose the bridging table in bridging position.

l/Vhen the table is supported by the elevator or jack frame the beams 28 and 29 of the table rest upon the beams 1l of the elevator frame, and the channel beams 30 of the table are disposed between the beams 11 as will be seen in Fig. 4. Assuming that the table is being raised by the elevator mechanism into bridging position, the noses of the bolt guides cooperate with the fixed guide plates 59 to facilitate the accurate positioning vof the table. The noses enter the space between the plates and are guided by the flared edges 61 thereof between the straight edges 60. Below their taper the noses are formed with straight sides which cooperate with the straight guide edges to accurately guide the bolts into register with the keeper notches 56 and accurately hold the table against lateral displacement. lhen this registration has been accomplished one of the levers 46 is operated to project the. bolt through the notches. The upper edges of the plates 54 and 58 at the bottoms of the keeper notches 56 are adapted to be received within the bolt notches 41. This engagement is eected by lowering the elevator and the table slightly after the bolts have been projected. The lips 42 are then disposed back of the keeper plates.

A locomotive or other rolling stock travels from the rails 3 onto the bridging table and is stopped in such position that the wheels or other parts thereof which are to be removed are disposed directly over the table. The elevator is then operated to elevate the table and raise these wheels to free them from their mountings. This elevation of the table incidentally frees the bolts so that they can be retracted by operating one of the levers 46.

The elevator is then operated toelower,.the table with the detached wheels thereon into the pit, and the truck is propelled along :the

pit to another point thereof which is intersected-by another surface track. At this point L table-guiding and keeper means similar to Y rolled from the table onto the surface track.

To replace the wheels these operations.,are reversed. 'i

What VI claim is:

l. In a drop pit apparatus, a bridging and transporting table comprising a frame structure and a pair of track rail sections to extend across the pit supported in spacedrelation by said frame structure, said table being adapted to be raised and lowered in the pit to and from bridging position; a plurality of bolting means carried by the table for holding it in bridging position, located adjacent the ends of the rail sections and each comprising a reciprocable bolt and -a guide member for the bolt fixed to the frame structure and formed with a nose extending out toward the adjacent side of the pit and tapered upwardly; means mounted at opposite sidesvof the pit defining a plurality of keeper meansto receive the bolts and support theJ table in bridging position; downwardly opening vertical guides mounted in the pit, extending downwardly from each keeper and flaring outward in opposite directions at their lower ends, said guides being adapted to engage l opposite sides of said noses of the bolt guides to accurately register the bolts with the keepers; and means for reciprocating the bolts 'to operative and inoperative position.

2. In a drop pit apparatus, a bridging and transporting table comprising a pair of track rail sections to extend across the pit, a'fiame structure supporting said rail sections Vin spaced relation, and a platform supportedby the frame structure between the railsections;

bolts reciprocably carried by the table adja- Vative connections between both ofthe upper shafts and the lower shaft to rock all of 1'said' shafts-in unison when the lever is shifted;

and operative connections between each upper shaft and the bolts adjacent thereto for shifting all of the bolts in unison when the lever is shifted.

3. In a drop pit apparatus, a bridging and vrs transporting table comprising a frame structure and a pair of track rail sections to extend across the pit supported in spaced relaj tion by said frame structure, said table being adapted vto be raised and lowered in the pit to and from bridging position; a plurality of bolting meansA carried by the table for holding Vit in bridging position, located adjacent the ends of the rail sections and each compris ing a reciprocable bolt, and a guide member through which the bolt slides, fixed to the frame structure and formed with anose extending out toward the adjacent side of the pit and tapered upwardly; means mounted at opposite sides of the pit defining Ia pluralityV of keeper means to receive the bolts and support the table'in bridging position; vertical guides mounted in the pit, extending downwardly from the keepers, said guides being adapted to engage said noses of the bolt guides to accurately register the bolts with the keepers; and means for reciprocating the boltsto operative and inoperative position.

4. In a drop pit apparatus, a bridging and transporting table comprising a pair of track rail sections to extend across the pit, a frame structure supporting said rail sections inV spaced relation, and a platform supported by the frame structure between the rail sections,

vshafts for rocking it; operative yconnections between both of the upper shafts and the lower shaft to rock allY of said shafts in unison when said shaftrocking means is shifted; vand operative connections between each up per shaft and said locking and supporting Ydevices adjacent thereto for shifting all of said devices in unison to operative position or to inoperative position when said shaftrocking means is operated.

y5. vIn a drop pit apparatus, a bridging and Vtransporting table comprising a pair of track rail sections to extend across the pit, a frame structure supporting said rail sections in yspaced relation, and a platform supported by the frame ,structure between the rail sections; shiftable locking and supporting devices carried by the table adjacent the ends of each f rail section to detachably support the table 'in'b-ridging position across the pit; alower rock shaft supported by the frame structure Aand extending transversely beneath said platform; two upper rock shafts sup-ported parallel to said lower shaft and extending outward in opposite directions lat the outer sides of the rail sections; two levers for rocking said upper shafts, one lever being fixed to each shaft; operative connections between both of the upper shafts and the lower shaft to operate all of said shafts in unison when either of said levers isshifted; and operative connections between each upper shaft and said locking and supporting devices adjacent thereto for shifting all of said devices in unison to operative position or to inoperative position with the shifting of either lever.

6. In a dro-p pit apparatus, a bridging and transporting table comprising a pair of track rail sections to extend across the pit, a frame structure supporting said rail `sections 'in spaced relation, a depressed platform supported by the frame structure between the rail sections, four shiftab-le locking and supporting devices carried by the table adjacent the ends of each rail section above the depressed platform to detachably support the table in bridging position across the pit; a lower rock shaft supported by the frame structure and extending transversely beneath the rail sec tions and beneath said depressed platform; two upper rock shafts above the depressed platform and supported parallel to saidlower shaft and extending outward in opposite directions at the outer sides of the rail sections; means fixed to the outer end of each of said upper shafts for rocking them; operative connections between each of the upper shafts and the lower shaft to rock all of said shafts in unison when either one of said shaft-rocking means is shifted; and operative connections between each upper shaft andsaid locking and supporting devices adjacent thereto for shifting all of said devices in unisonto operative position or to inoperative position when f said shaft-rocking means is operated.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

FRANK L. DAVIS, JR. 

